Aston's gaze shifted to the front, silently focusing there. Marie, noticing this, also looked in that direction.
"There's nothing there," Marie said, puzzled, as she saw no one. However, her expression quickly turned serious as she too sensed the presence of people. Without hesitation, she dove into the water to hide.
Aston watched calmly, unfazed by the sudden presence. He planned to use a transformation spell on Marie to take her back to the surface after these people passed.
But upon seeing who emerged, Aston changed his mind. "Hey, I didn't expect it to be you guys," he said, smiling slightly, recognizing the tattooed bald man leading a group of adventurers.
In the next moment, Aston vanished from his spot, reappearing in front of the group. The sudden appearance startled the bald man with the tattoo, who asked sternly, "Who are you?" His companions also became alert, surprised by Aston's speed.
"You're from the Ikelos Familia, aren't you?" Aston asked, still smiling.
"Yes, we're from the Ikelos Familia. What do you want with us?" replied the bald man, named Gran, gripping his weapon, ready for combat.
"I only need one of you to deliver a message. The rest can stay here," Aston said cryptically.
Gran looked puzzled, not understanding Aston's intention. But in the next moment, he realized what Aston meant. Or rather, Gran was the only one left to understand as his companions had already fallen.
Lightning flashed, and in an instant, the adventurers behind Gran were struck, their necks bleeding profusely as they collapsed. Gran, spared from decapitation, had his arm severed by Aston, bleeding profusely.
"How is this possible!" Gran gasped in disbelief, kneeling and clutching his wound. Aston had disabled him and killed his companions in an instant, displaying strength beyond a first-level adventurer, possibly even stronger than their leader, Dix.
"Tell Dix Perdix I have a dragon girl with me. If he wants her, he can meet me on the 28th floor," Aston said indifferently, cleaning his knight's sword of blood and walking away, leaving Gran behind.
After looting a spherical object from the fallen adventurers, Aston continued forward without further regard for Gran.
After walking along the river for several hundred meters, Aston stopped and turned to face the river.
"Come out, Marie," he called out.
As soon as his spoke, a figure swiftly emerged from the river and landed in front of Aston.
"Why did you kill those people just now? Aren't they adventurers like you?" Marie immediately asked, her curiosity evident.
"Those guys have been hunting your kind, the Xenos. And you're still speaking for them?" Aston said with a slight smile.
"Hunting? Then they deserved it," Marie pragmatically replied, quickly changing her tone from kind to cold upon learning that Aston's victims were Xenos hunters.
"Okay, let's not talk about this," Aston chuckled, changing the subject. "I've come to take you to the surface."
"What? I can only live in water. And with this appearance, I'd be killed by adventurers on the surface. You're the first adventurer I've met like this," Marie said, a bit disheartened, shaking her head in doubt.
Aston didn't bother explaining much. Instead, he tossed a black robe and a set of clothes to her. Marie clumsily caught them, looking puzzled.
"Clothes?" she asked, blinking adorably.
Aston nodded with a smile. The next moment, he activated the transformation skill. A white light enveloped Marie's body. Aston, gentlemanly, turned away.
"Marie, put on the clothes."
"What? I've become human!" she exclaimed in surprise.
"Just put on the clothes," Aston insisted.
"Oh… Oh, okay. But how do I wear these?"
"Aston, can you teach me?"
"How am I supposed to teach that? You know, men and women shouldn't touch each other like that."
"What does that mean?"
"Ah, forget it, this world doesn't have that saying. Anyway, just try it yourself and put the clothes on."
"Tsk, Aston, you're so boring."
"Boring? Is that the word for this situation?"
Perhaps due to a natural inclination towards clothes, Marie managed to figure out how to wear them after a bit of fumbling.
Once Marie was dressed, Aston didn't waste any time. He picked her up and, surrounded by a cool breeze, swiftly ascended to an upper layer of the dungeon.
There was no other choice; Marie was too slow, and Aston wanted to return to the surface before nightfall. He avoided using lightning speed while carrying Marie, fearing he might accidentally electrocute her and turn her into a grilled fish.
"Wow, this is so fast and refreshing!" Marie exclaimed, enjoying the swift movement.
***
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